Phish Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 I take an annual bass fishing vacation with family every summer in Ontario, about 4-5 hours north of Toronto. Unfortunately our usual destination is not an option this year so we're looking for somewhere new to try. I'm asking for some suggestions from forum members who have experienced a great smallmouth bass fishing vacation, please! After hours of research I just can't decide between a few options. I know there have to be some hidden gems out there that aren't coming up in search results. Specifically, we're looking for a complete fishing package for 3-4 days (referred to as an American Plan by most Canadian fishing lodges). We need cabins and boats/motors on or near the lake(s), accommodating 4-6 people. Preferably 10 hours or less drive from Western PA - which probably limits us to Michigan, NY, parts of Ontario and Quebec (I'd personally just go to Lake Erie and rent a vacation house and boat myself, but that won't work for this trip). My family also prefers to have local guides provided as they're not comfortable on their own. I'm really looking closely at Michigan lakes and esepcially Traverse City area, but I'm not finding anything similar to the complete fishing packages offered by many Ontario outfitters. Thank you for any info you have! Quote
plumworm Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 I would suggest, that you don't need to go to Canada. Green Bay has far better (larger) smallies. Northern Door Wis. is beautiful and has unbelievable smallie fishing (up to 7 lbs.) Google "Door County Wi." 50 fish days a common in late May and June. Great guides available too. Good luck with your quest. Just an idea. By the way, there are several guides that own resorts in that area. 1 Quote
cnpusbp Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 Traverse City is awesome. You can rent a condo from www.visitupnorth.com and fish with Capt. Chris Noffsinger of Northern Adventures Fishing www.northernadventuresfishing.com if you wanted guided fishing. Not sure about other options such as boats to rent though. Chris is great however. 2 Quote
Phish Posted February 4, 2014 Author Posted February 4, 2014 Thank you all for your replies and advice. I'm checking into the suggestions and I emailed the that guide service too. Anyone else have a suggestion? Quote
Super User WRB Posted February 5, 2014 Super User Posted February 5, 2014 Not too familiar anymore with western Ontario, Rainy river area was a good smallmouth fishery and Kakagi ( Crow Lake) near Nestor Falls, lake of the woods area had under fished smallmouth bass population, average about 4 lbs with a few 6's each day. Crow gets lake trout fishing pressure, however the bass and muskies are not targeted. Crows water is gin clear, big lake with a few good resorts. Check it put. Tom 1 Quote
cnpusbp Posted February 5, 2014 Posted February 5, 2014 Phish, My wife and step-children (teens) fished with Chris and another guide (Tony) on Traverse Bay in late May of this past year. The kids had never fished before. I had fished with Chris a couple of times before and count him a friend. Always have a great time with him. Both guides did a great job and got us on fish. We ended the day with 97 smallies and both of the kids broke 6 pounds! They still don't understand the magnitude of that. It was an epic day - one we will remember for a long time. 1 Quote
MichiganFishing1997 Posted February 5, 2014 Posted February 5, 2014 We have some amazing fishing here in Michigan, I think its a little under rated. Lake St. Clair is one of the best Smallmouth lakes ever, you can fish the channels and rivers, or the lake itself. There are some great Smallmouth guides, and musky too. Theres a plethora of smallmouth, largemouth, silver bass, and many other fish species too. I highly recommend it. Theres also great swimming spots when you want to take a break, areas to shop, and local tackle shops. If you come up here just let me know and il point you the right direction! Traverse City is a great place too, I love it there. As is grand haven on the west side of the state, and little towns like Lincoln and Alpena in the north east. Plenty of options! Christian 3 Quote
coryn h. fishowl Posted February 6, 2014 Posted February 6, 2014 Bass Pro Shops have their own resorts. Some of them are right by lakes. Call your local shop and book a trip 1 Quote
B_Gilbert Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 We have some amazing fishing here in Michigan, I think its a little under rated. Lake St. Clair is one of the best Smallmouth lakes ever, you can fish the channels and rivers, or the lake itself. There are some great Smallmouth guides, and musky too. Theres a plethora of smallmouth, largemouth, silver bass, and many other fish species too. I highly recommend it. Theres also great swimming spots when you want to take a break, areas to shop, and local tackle shops. If you come up here just let me know and il point you the right direction! Traverse City is a great place too, I love it there. As is grand haven on the west side of the state, and little towns like Lincoln and Alpena in the north east. Plenty of options! Christian Lake St. Clair anytime around June or July is worth the trip, I go there once a week almost all year and I am hardly ever disappointed. Its nothing for my dad and I to boat 50-70 smallmouth in a day there, St Clair was voted the best fishery in the nation last year for a reason . Also, the great thing about St. Clair is within a very short distance you have the Detroit River and Lake Erie, both excellent fisheries as well. 1 Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted February 7, 2014 Super User Posted February 7, 2014 Give me $1000, I'll let you sleep on my couch, and we'll hit the local lakes around every day for a week or so, you'll catch plenty because...................well you'll be with me. If not, you can at least take pictures of all the ones I catch. 1 Quote
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